Just over an hour’s drive from Toronto, the Village of St. Jacobs was established in 1852, just outside of Waterloo region, Ontario, along the Conestoga River. St. Jacobs is a small village, surrounded by picturesque countryside, it offers visitors a glimpse into rural life of Canada. With many shops, restaurants, a brewery and so much more, there is truly something unique for everyone in the Village of St. Jacobs.
Highlight of the trip:
- Take a stroll through Historic St. Jacobs with a detailed map, or go with a Guided Walking Tour! Best season to take the stroll: May-October, time to allocate: an hour to 90 minutes.
- The famous St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market: the largest year-round farmers’ market in Canada where they can purchase fresh locally-sourced produce and artisanal crafts. It’s particularly worth visiting during the summer when the outdoor Farmers’ Market is open, and various fruits and vegetables are on full display.
- Market Road Antiques: just across the street from the famous St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market is a 20,000 square feet indoor antique mall. From quality furniture, glassware, art and books, jewelry, toys, clothing and more, you can easily spend a whole day browsing here.
How to get there:
The fast and easiest way is by driving. If driving is not possible, then take a Go train from Toronto to Waterloo. From Waterloo, you can take a train to St. Jacobs. Waterloo Central Railway is a heritage railway offering historic passenger train rides on the Waterloo Spur between Northfield Drive in Waterloo, the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market, Village of St. Jacobs and Town of Elmira. Or you can take a bus to St. Jacobs from University of Waterloo bus station for about 30 minutes.
Where to stay:
You don’t have to stay overnight if you just want to visit St. Jacobs, but spend a night or weekend to get the most out of your visit when you combine a tour of Waterloo University, a prestigious university in Canada.
